Improvement in vehicle-hubs



UNITED STATES,

PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE L. HOUSE AND MARSHALL W. STODDARD, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN VEHlCLE-Hl JBS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 207,210, dated August20, 1878; application filed October 18, 1877. i,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, Gnonen L. House and MARSHALL W. STODDARD, of thecity of Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Vehicle-Hubs, of whichthe following is a specification:

Our invention consists in the novel and highly useful combination of anumber of important bands, and a wooden vehicle-hub, in such a mannerthat the hub itself is generally strengthened, and is thoroughlyprotected from all abrasion, indentation, and other injury by blows uponits exterior, and from the action of the weather, and the spokes alsolaterally supported as well as strengthened to resist a thrust in the,direction of their length.

The accompanying drawing represents a section through the hub, takenmidway between the spokes, where- A represents an ordinary wooden hub;E, the spokes. The latter may be connected to the hub in any desiredmanner. F represents a band of metal, preferably cast and trued intoshape, and so formed as to fit, as shown, closely the central belt ofthe front periphery of the hub. The outer portion of the periphery ofthis end of the hub is preferably left uncovered for the reception ofthe usual pointband added by the parties finishing said wheel. Thispoint-band will abut against the front edge of band I When preferred,the band F may be of a greater width, and so wide as to extend beyondthe front end of the hub, and

perform the oflice of and take the place of the point-band. Two-thirdsof the periphery of the hub behind the spokes is covered by a band, B,which covers the extreme rear or straight portion of the hub andone-half of shoulder or enlarged portion G. The band B may be extendedso.as to project beyond the rear end of the hub and form a sandband.These bands are preferably driven on the hub and into position.

A flanged band, (3, of a width a trifle greater than the space,uncovered, of the hub between the spokes and the adjacent edge of theband B, is forced onto and over the rear part of the hub until the faceof its vertical flange sits closely against the sides of the spokes. hen

in this position, the flange a of the band 0 will lap over and protectthe inner edge of band B, and also tightly compress the latter againstthe hub.

A flanged band, C, somewhat wider than the uncovered space of the hubbetween the spokes and the adjacent edge of band F, is forced onto andover the front half of the hub until the face of its vertical flangesets closely against the sides of the spokes. When in this position theflange a of the band C will lap over and protect the inner edge of bandF, and also tightly compress the latter against the hub. The flangedbands (1 and G are here con nected together by means of bolts or rivetsD, which pass across between or through the spokes from one flange tothe other, and bind the hands together and hold them firmly in position.The method of uniting the two flanges is not material. When preferred,the flanged bands may be formed in one casting, and the spokes beintroduced between the metal partitions connecting the flanges.

The joints between bands 0 F and O B are, preferably, made water-tight.

The effect of our invention is to produce a wheel of great strength anddurability.

In the combination of bands there are certain advantages derivable fromthe employment of each band by itself, and also from the combination ofthe same. The advantages derived from the employment of the band F areas follows: First, it protects the front of the hub from injury by blowsreceived from the hubs of passing vehicles and objects against which itmay be forced through the carelessness of the driver; secondly, itprotects a portion of the front half of the hub from the action of theweather, and combines with the pointband and flange C to keep the hubdry and firm. Where the band F is omitted the sur face of the hubbetween the point-band and flange-band 0, being exposed to the action ofthe weather, becomes wet and swells. The wood being confined and keptdry under the point-band, and also under the flange-band C, does notswell. As the wet wood. between these bands must swell, it forces itselfaway from the dryer portions and splits ofl', particularly at theshoulder. In this way a flue hub is soon ruined.

I the inside to the front edge. This construction Another advantageresulting from the use of the bands is, that the entire hub is renderedfirmer and stronger, and better fitted to Withstand the usual shocksreceived in the ordinary employment of the vehicle. Like advantages tothe rear portion of the hub, from the joint employment of the bands 0and B, result.

The flanged projections of the bands 0 and 0 support the spokes againstlateral deflection, and also strengthen them to resist the end thrust orstrut.

The attachment of the two flanges by means of rivets or other metallicconnections increases these advantages, the flanges of both bands G 0serving to hold the flaring bands B F closely to the hub, so that theycannot slip toward the ends.

The rear half of the band B is, preferably, beveled off on the insidefrom about the middle of the band to the rear edge, and the frontportion of the band 'F is also beveled off on of the bands, inconnection with the action of the flanges a a,,assists in the preventingof the bands from slipping off their respective ends of the hub. Thereason for this is, that after being driven onto the hub the woodexpands everywhere to meet the inner face of the band, and, pressingagainst the beveled portions, resists any attempt at compression, andtherefore counteracts any tendency the bands might have to slip off thehub.

As before alluded to, the bands 0 and O l compress and firmly hold theinner edge of their respective bands, B and F, and form a water-tightjoint at their junction.

Our invention is valuable for the hub of a staggered wheel, and in suchcase the faces of the flanged bands 0 and G are to be shaped to conformto the zigzag position of the spokes.

We are aware that the flange of one of the clamping-bands of a wheel hasbeen extended to lap over the usual rim at the edge; but suchconstruction renders it necessary to draw up a band with a deep flange,which is expensive, while the construction above set forth enables us touse bands with narrow flanges and outer bands of cast metal. Moreover,by the flaring shapes of the bandsB F, fitting at the edges within theflanges a a, the bands B F are clamped firmly in place. The wholearrange ment insures a perfect covering for the hub and absoluteprotection from the weather.

We claim- The combination, with the wooden hub G, of flaring bands B Fand the bands 0 0, having flanges contracted at the outer edges, andextending over and clamping the bands B F to the hub, the wholeconstituting a complete metallic covering for the hub, as set forth.

Attest:

H. M. FRASER, JOHN F. McBRIDn.

